R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, Many former members of the Texas Legislature have
1-2 gone on to serve in the United States Congress; of this select
1-3 group, one of the most eminent is the Honorable E. "Kika"
1-4 de la Garza, and his many accomplishments as a lawmaker and
1-5 statesman are indeed worthy of special praise and recognition; and
1-6 WHEREAS, A native Texan, Congressman de la Garza attended
1-7 Mission High School before, at age 17, joining the United States
1-8 Navy, where he served in both World War II and the Korean War;
1-9 after earning his law degree from St. Mary's University in 1952, he
1-10 opened his law practice in the Rio Grande Valley and was elected
1-11 to the first of his six consecutive terms in the Texas House of
1-12 Representatives; and
1-13 WHEREAS, In January 1965, Congressman de la Garza was sworn
1-14 in as a member of the 89th Congress, and in the years since, has
1-15 established himself as one of the ablest members of the House of
1-16 Representatives; a forceful advocate for our nation's agricultural
1-17 industry, he chaired the House Agriculture Committee from 1981 to
1-18 1994 and in so doing became the first Hispanic American to head a
1-19 standing committee in that chamber; and
1-20 WHEREAS, Congressman de la Garza's expertise on foreign trade
1-21 is also well known, particularly with regard to Mexico; he has
1-22 served as chairman of the House delegation to the Mexico-U.S.
1-23 Interparliamentary Group, which is composed of legislators from
1-24 both countries, and has worked to improve trade relations with
2-1 Japan, China, Russia, and Latin America; and
2-2 WHEREAS, The great esteem in which Congressman de la Garza is
2-3 held is apparent from the many awards and honors he has received
2-4 from around the world, including the Order of the Aztec Eagle,
2-5 Mexico's highest award for foreign citizens, and the first Lifetime
2-6 Achievement Award ever presented by Israel's Volcani Center; he has
2-7 also been awarded honorary law doctorates by the University of
2-8 Maryland, Lincoln University, and Hanyang University in Seoul,
2-9 South Korea; and
2-10 WHEREAS, Congressman de la Garza's commitment to his
2-11 community extends far beyond his professional life, and he has
2-12 given freely of his time and talent to a number of organizations,
2-13 including the American Legion, the Kiwanis Club, the Council of
2-14 State Governments, Catholic War Veterans, and the chambers of
2-15 commerce of Mission, McAllen, and the Rio Grande Valley; and
2-16 WHEREAS, Throughout his remarkable career, Congressman
2-17 de la Garza has relied on the support of his large and loving
2-18 family, and he and his wife, the former Lucille Alamia, take great
2-19 pride in their three children, Jorge, Michael, and Angela, and
2-20 their seven grandchildren; and
2-21 WHEREAS, Congressman Kika de la Garza's lifelong dedication
2-22 to the service of his fellow citizens has greatly benefited
2-23 Americans and people around the world, and it is indeed appropriate
2-24 at this time to recognize the many achievements of this notable
2-25 Texan; now, therefore, be it
2-26 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas
2-27 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the Honorable E. "Kika"
3-1 de la Garza for his distinguished service to his state, his
3-2 country, and his community and extend to him sincere best wishes
3-3 for continued success and happiness in the future; and, be it
3-4 further
3-5 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-6 prepared for Congressman de la Garza as an expression of high
3-7 regard by the Texas House of Representatives.
Wise
Laney Gutierrez Oliveira
Alexander Haggerty Olivo
Allen Hamric Palmer
Alvarado Hartnett Patterson
Averitt Hawley Pickett
Bailey Heflin Pitts
Berlanga Hernandez Place
Bonnen Hightower Price
Bosse Hilbert Puente
Brimer Hilderbran Rabuck
Burnam Hill Ramsay
Carter Hinojosa Rangel
Chavez Hirschi Raymond
Chisum Hochberg Reyna of Bexar
Christian Hodge Reyna of Dallas
Clark Holzheauser Rhodes
Coleman Horn Rodriguez
Cook Howard Roman
Corte Hunter Sadler
Counts Hupp Seaman
Crabb Isett Serna
Craddick Jackson Shields
Cuellar Janek Siebert
Culberson Jones of Lubbock Smith
Danburg Jones of Dallas Smithee
Davila Junell Solis
Davis Kamel Solomons
Delisi Keel Staples
Denny Keffer Stiles
Driver King Swinford
Dukes Krusee Talton
Dunnam Kubiak Telford
Dutton Kuempel Thompson
Edwards Lewis of Tarrant Tillery
Ehrhardt Lewis of Orange Torres
Eiland Longoria Turner of Coleman
Elkins Luna Turner of Harris
Farrar McCall Uher
Finnell McClendon Van de Putte
Flores McReynolds Walker
Gallego Madden West
Galloway Marchant Williams
Garcia Maxey Williamson
Giddings Merritt Wilson
Glaze Moffat Wise
Goodman Moreno Wohlgemuth
Goolsby Mowery Wolens
Gray Naishtat Woolley
Greenberg Nixon Yarbrough
Grusendorf Oakley Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 144 was adopted by the House on
February 17, 1997, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House